Mega Man X2's Planner Shares Original "Green Biker Dude" Scene Design Notes

He made only a brief appearance, but Mega Man X2's "Green Biker Dude," as fans fondly call him, is an icon. Blink and you'll miss him— that split-second wheelie at the game's start left a lasting impression. For over 30 years, this enigmatic Reploid has inspired endless parodies, memes, art, and even fan-games. Yet, amid all the hype, one question lingers: What is his real name?

When Mega Man X2 planner Yoshihisa Tsuda began sharing more about X2's development on Twitter, I took the opportunity to ask him about it. While Tsuda confirmed that nothing concrete was ever conceived during the game's development, he did share something equally intriguing: the original design notes for the Green Biker Dude scene and a little background behind its development.

ナカマノエアバイクの話。

コピー紙にネタを考えてた当時のメモ書きを部屋の片付けをしてて見つけました。コレを元に会社でワープロを使って正式な企画書や仕様書を制作していました。#ロックマンＸ2#ロックマンＸ#MegaMan… pic.twitter.com/hjii4KABdY

— ヨシ (@sa1999_) April 24, 2024

The note reads:

<<Rockman X appears>>

X returns on the Air Bike. He races through a rain of lasers. In the distance, a fellow Air Bike appears alongside X.

<<A friend is shot>>

One of the laser hits the companion's Air Bike. At that moment, X looks back.

Tsuda also clarified that Green Biker Dude wasn't just a friend, but a fellow Hunter in X's unit.

Here's Tsuda's comment on drafting the scene:

"During the development of Mega Man X2, Director Fujiwara once told me, 'listen, planners, if you think of ideas 24/7 and write them down when you come to the office, that will be great.' So, I sincerely did that for a time.

While working at Capcom, my commute took a little over two hours one way. An hour and a half of that train ride I used to brainstorm. (I also slept a lot.) Fortunately, since my station was the starting point of the Hanwa Line, I always managed to secure a seat. Maybe I was just that lucky? Anyway, it turns out those train rides were perfect to come up with ideas. Most of the ideas I came up with for X2 originated from notes made during that commute.

By the way, because I was a mid-career hire, I couldn't live in Capcom's dorms and there was an age limit for housing allowances. However, they did cover commuting expenses. I would leave home at 6:30 in the morning and return around 1:00 AM, commuting like this for about a year and a half. Despite the challenging hours, I didn't find it too burdensome because it was enjoyable to be involved with the production of X2. Well then, I'm starting to sound like a corporate drone, so I'll stop here for now."

It's worth pointing out that despite Green Biker Dude lacking an official name, Tsuda drew comparisons between the character's death and that of Hayao Kakizaki from Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?, who died in a similar fashion. This was not Tsuda's intention when drafting the scene, but both characters garnered a similar lasting following.

And with that, dear friends, we conclude. Though nameless he may be, Green Biker Dude's legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire fans for years to come. And who knows? Perhaps we'll encounter him again one day, in some shape or form.

For more X2 trivia, give Tsuda a follow here.